matriarch

the matriarchs have gone
and left me in charge

oh the blisters life leaves
upon the fertile soil
of a young woman's soul

my envelope is dulling now
the color leaves my cheek

what have they left behind
those willows by the shore
that lean over to shade the stream

for me there's nothing there
save a cheek, a tender smile
the memory of a lap to cry upon

reflections in the stream
of days past calling to that love

I crawl toward the light they left
it teases as it dances upon the wilting leaves
spinning as the breeze plucks them
from the empty gangling arms

a trace refracted tonal poem
a spit shine on a shoe